diff --git a/cpp/src/barretenberg/solidity_helpers/circuits/recursive_circuit.hpp b/cpp/src/barretenberg/solidity_helpers/circuits/recursive_circuit.hpp
index 077427af51..a6dcc0b87c 100644
--- a/cpp/src/barretenberg/solidity_helpers/circuits/recursive_circuit.hpp
+++ b/cpp/src/barretenberg/solidity_helpers/circuits/recursive_circuit.hpp
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ template <typename OuterComposer> class RecursiveCircuit {
             }
             auto native_result = native_verifier.verify_proof(recursive_proof);
             if (native_result == false) {
-                throw std::runtime_error("Native verification failed");
+                throw_or_abort("Native verification failed");
             }
         }
 
@@ -122,13 +122,13 @@ template <typename OuterComposer> class RecursiveCircuit {
             P, circuit_output.verification_key->reference_string->get_precomputed_g2_lines(), 2);
 
         if (inner_proof_result != barretenberg::fq12::one()) {
-            throw std::runtime_error("inner proof result != 1");
+            throw_or_abort("inner proof result != 1");
         }
 
         circuit_output.aggregation_state.add_proof_outputs_as_public_inputs();
 
         if (outer_composer.failed()) {
-            throw std::runtime_error("outer composer failed");
+            throw_or_abort("outer composer failed");
         }
 
         return outer_composer;
diff --git a/cpp/src/barretenberg/solidity_helpers/proof_gen.cpp b/cpp/src/barretenberg/solidity_helpers/proof_gen.cpp
index 1448597c32..4765895ec5 100644
--- a/cpp/src/barretenberg/solidity_helpers/proof_gen.cpp
+++ b/cpp/src/barretenberg/solidity_helpers/proof_gen.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ template <typename Composer, typename Circuit> void generate_proof(std::string s
         auto verifier = composer.create_ultra_with_keccak_verifier();
 
         if (!verifier.verify_proof(proof)) {
-            throw std::runtime_error("Verification failed");
+            throw_or_abort("Verification failed");
         }
 
         std::string proof_bytes = bytes_to_hex_string(proof.proof_data);